Improvement in railway-gates



4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. PJSPAHN.

' RAILWAY-GATES} No. 177,968. Patented May'3O,11876 N. PETERS, PHOTDLITHOGRAPNEK WASHINGTON. D Cv 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

'E. P. SP-AHN. RAILWAY-GATES.

Patented. May 30,1876.

BIO-1771968.

lwwaa N-PETERS, FNOTO-ILITHOGRAFHER, WASHINGTON, B. c.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3. E. 'P. SPQAHN. RAILWAY-GATES.

1704171968. Patented May 3 0, 1876.

N P ETERS. PHDTO-LITHUGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D. 04

4Sheets-Sheet4. E. P. SPAHN.

RAILWAY-GATES.

N 177 968 Patented. May 30,1876.

UNITED STATES PATENT forrroa EMIL P. SPAHN, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENTUIN RAILWAYGATES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 177,968, dated May 30,1876 application filed October 12, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL P. SPAHN, of Newark, in. the county of Essexand State of New Jersey, have invented a new and ImprovedRailway-Crossing Gate, with apparatus for operating the same, of whichthe following is a specification:

The nature of my invention consists in the combination, with wholly orpartly counterbalanced gates, of weights auxiliary to the counterbalanceweights, and suitable apparatus foractuating said auxiliary weights bythe moving train, in such a manner that the gates will be opened andclosed by gravity, according as the auxiliary weights or balance ofgravity is shifted from one side to the other of the pivoted center, orwhich, 011 others than pivoted gates, is let on, lifted off, or shiftedalong the gates or their counter-balances.

The object of .this inventionis to employ only light objects to be actedupon by the train, as its quick motion, if applied directly to the heavygates, would overstrain and damage the connections; whereas, in thisway, the weights to be moved by the action of the train need only beheavy enough to change the balance of gravity. The weights are added onor lifted off according to whether the arm on which the weight .is toact is overbalanced or underbalanced, either way being alike available.The weight may be arranged to "slide along the gate across the pivot, toeffect the necessary changes.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents an elevation ofadouble gate, in which a sliding auxiliary weight is employed, operatedby the train, to effect the opening and closing of the gates. Fig. 2represents the same when the gates are closed. Fig. 3 is an end view ofFig.1. Fig. 4: is an elevation of single gates.

Similar letters represent similar parts in all figures.

A represents the railway 5 B, the gates which are to be employed forclosing the crossings. These gates may be made to slide up and down, toslide horizontally, or to swing on pivoted centers, as shown in Figs. 1,2, 3, and 4. The gates are pivoted to a suitable support or post, 0,being nearly balanced, so that a light weight being added or lifted offwill operate the same. D represents the auxiliary weight, which, inFigs. 1 and 2, is arranged to act on the long arms of the gates, andweigh them down by the connections of the links L and rods or pins mwith the long arms of the gates. H H arelevers, arranged on the side ofthe rails, actuated by the wheels of the cars. The lever H is connectedby means of a cord, wire, or chain, h, to a spring-catch, K, and thelever H to the weight D. The gates or arms of the gates B arecounterbalanced by suitable weights. The end of the spring K enters arecess, 2, in the weight D, and holds the same up when the gate is open,as shown in Figs. 1 to 3.

As soon as the wheel of the car comes in contact with the lever Hitdepresses the same, and moves thereby the spring-catch K out of recess2, allowing the weight D to act upon the gates 13, so as to closethe'same. When the train has passed, the car-wheel comes in contactwiththe lever H, depressing the same, and; thereby lifting up the weightagain till caught by the spring K, when the gates will open againthrough their counter-weights.

The long arms of pivoted gates will gain in swinging power when fallingdownward. To

counteract this I propose to adjust the counbalancing-weight D in such amanner as to move its center of gravity away from the pivot of the gate,in proportion as the gate moves down. For this purpose the weight D (seeFig. 4) is attached to an arm, a, pivoted above the pivot of the gate inthe post 0, the counter -weight D being supplied with proper wheels toslide easily in suitable grooves in the small arm.

In case a team should be caught between the closing gates, one or bothof the arms of the gate may be hinged as shown in Fig. 4,openingoutward, and kept close by means of suitable springs, or by aweight, R. It is evident that springs or gravity-pawls are likewiseavailable, and can be used'in every case where weight-power is employedin the above description What 1 claim as my invention, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of auxiliary weights, and mechanism to actuate thesame, with nearly or wholly counterbalanced gates, so

that the same or their counter-balances be re- 3. The spring-catch K, incombination with lieved 0f, or have the weights added to, them, suitablecords and connecting mechanism actuto efl'ect the opening and closing ofthe gates ated by a moving train, to catch hold of or by thus ch mgingthe gravity, substantially release weight or lifter D, in the manner andin the manner and forthe purposes described. for the purposesubstantially as set forth.

2. The combination of gates B, weight D,

links L, with rods or pins m, and spring-catch EMIL P. SPAHN. K withlevers H and H, arranged and oper- Witnesses: ating substantially inthe" manner and for the G. MEISINGER,

purpose specified. JOHN SCHMIDT.

